Car-coupling



(No Model.)

B. D. SPARLING & P. S. PITCH.

GAR COUPLING.

j. SL2 2 l ly,

Patented Sept. 1 1885. W

7 WI f-NESSES in g parts in all the figures, A represents a car,

UNTTED STATES PATENT @rrrcis.

BAZZALLEEL nnnnow SPARLING AND PHILIP SOHUYLAR- FITCH, or

. cannons, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,454, dated September 1,1885.

Application filed July 7, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, BAZZALLEEL D.SPARL ING- and PHILIP S. FITCH, citizens of the United States, residing at Belmorc, in the county of Putnam and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to car-couplings, the objects being to provide improved means for supporting the draw-head; to provide springs to bear against the sides of the draw-head, whereby the draw-head will be allowed to move laterally in turning curves; to provide an improved form of coupling-pin and means for supporting the same, and to provide improved mcans for raising the pin to uncouple the cars.

lVit-h these ends in view the invention consists in theimproved construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a carcoupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the draw-head, showing the coupling-pin in full lines. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 is a detail view.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate correspondto the under side of which is attached a drawhcad, B. At the rear end of the'draw-head is provided an extension, C, the end of which passes through a bearing-block attached to the under side of the car, and on said extension, between the rear end of the draw-head and the bcaringblock, is a spiral spring, which prevents strain to the car and sudden shocks and jars.

E represents a bracket, which is secured to the forward end of the car A, said bracket extending under the draw-head, and leaving a space between itself and the bottom and sides of the draw-head.

F represents rods located at the forward end of the car on each side of the draw-head. These rods extend downwardly through the bracket E, and upon said rods are plates G G. Upon the rods between the plates are spiral springs H, the same holding the plate G against the under side of the draw-head and the plate G on the bracket. It will thus be observed that the draw-head is springsupported at its forward end, and that it will be held in position by said springs, said springs allowing the drawhead to be depressed when coupling with low cars.

Secured to the sides of the draw-head, near the rear ends thereof, are flat springs I, the forward ends of which extend out from the draw-head and bear against the inner sides of the rods F. By the employment of these springs, should the draw-head of an approaching car be out of line, the link of the same will stril-ce the draw-head and force the same laterally. The draw-head A is provided with a pin-opening, a, which has vertical slots b,whicl1 are closed at their upper ends by a metal plate, cl. The bottom of the draw-head is provided with an interior groove or channel, 6, in which the lower end of the coupling-pin is adapted to work, said groove or channel terminating near the forward end of the drawhead, so that the pin may be pushed rearwardly, but will be held in a vertical position by the end of said groove.

J represents the coupling-pin, which is pro vided with gudgcons, which are located in the vertical slots b in the pin-opening. It will thus be seen that said couplingpin mayswing rearwardly, and can be raised and lowered.

In coupling the link of the approaching car enters the draw-head and forces the pin real wardly, the pin. dropping over the link and returning to its former position, its end hearing against the front end of the groove or channel in the draw-head,and thus holding the link.

K represents a shaft journaled in brackets L, secured to the front of the car, said shaft being provided at its ends with operating-handles. Upon the shaft K, between the brackets, is provided a spline, f, which is not quite as long as the distance between said brackets, thus allowing the shaft to be moved laterally.

Upon the shalt K is an arm, M, which has a groove to receive the spline, said arm being held against lateral movement by a bracketstop, 9. The shaft, however, may be moved laterally in the arm.

N represents notches, which are formed on the inner side of one of the brackets L, so that when the shaft is turned to raise or lower the arm M said arm may be held in such position by sliding the shaft in the arm so that the spline will engage one of said notches.

0 represents a chain which connects the outer end of the arm with the coupling-pin, and which is connected at its upper end with a plate, P, having aseries of openings, h, preferably rectangular in form.

Secured to the top of the car and extending outwardly therefrom is a plate, Q, having an opening for the passage of the plate P, and extending into said opening is a lug, i,with which any one of the openings h is adapted to be engaged, thus allowing the coupling-pin to be supported in a raised position from the top of the car. The slot in the plate Q is smaller than the upper end of the plate 1?, so that said plate cannot drop through the slot.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- The combination, with a draw-head and its coupling-pin, of a shaft journaled in brackets secured to the front of the car, a spline on said.

BAZZALLEEL DENBOW SPARLING. PHILIP SCIIUYI'IAR FITCH.

Vitne sses GEO. W. HELFRIOH, HENRY H. OSBORN. 

